The small college town of Athens, Georgia has been a hotbed for live music since the 1980s. So much so, there are a lot of great bands from Athens that never survive since there is so much competition in their own backyard.
The Whigs are an Athens-based rock band that straddles the fence on making it to the next level. One of the reasons could be that it is hard to pinpoint their genre of music. Part garage rock, part indie rock, part alternative rock and a huge portion of straight ahead rock-n-roll, they are a little too offbeat for the mainstream route, but a little too loud and rowdy for the hipster indie rock crowd. Either way, they have continued to grow their fanbase over the years and are forcing their way into the spotlight.
Formed in 2002 while band members Parker Gispert and Julian Dorio were attending the University of Georgia in Athens, The Whigs quickly jumped into the Athens music scene and soon decided to independently release their debut album, Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip. It did not take national media long to take notice, as Rolling Stone Magazine even heralded them as “perhaps the best unsigned band in America.” That led to their signing with ATO Records, and they quickly got back into the studio to record their sophomore album.
During this period, their original bass player parted ways, but by the time Mission Control was released, they had found a new bass player in Timothy Deaux and were ready to hit the road touring without missing a beat.
Years later, after the release of two more albums, multiple late night TV show appearances and constant touring with the likes of Kings of Leon, Drive By Truckers and Band of Horses, The Whigs have continued to garner attention, and whether they are seeking it or not, they are currently on the cusp of breaking big.